Bucs Slash Ticket Prices In Hopes of More Fans

Trying to reverse an abysmal two-year attendance slump, the Tampa Bay Bucs announced Wednesday a major overhaul of their season-ticket pricing for 2012.

By RICK BROWNTHE LEDGER

TAMPA | Trying to reverse an abysmal two-year attendance slump, the Tampa Bay Bucs announced Wednesday a major overhaul of their season-ticket pricing for 2012.

Prices on nearly 80 percent of general admission seats will be reduced, and for the fourth-consecutive year, the team said there will be no price increases.

"Listening to our fans, the overwhelming recommendation they made is more value and more options between the most affordable seats and the most exclusive," Buccaneers co-chairman Ed Glazer said in a statement.

Attendance has been a major problem for the Bucs the past two seasons. All home games in 2010 and three of the four games played at Raymond James Stadium so far this year were blacked out on local TV because they weren't sold out. Two of the three remaining home games this season appear destined for the same fate. Only exceptions: the Monday night game against Indianapolis on Oct. 3 and the Dec. 17 game against Dallas, which sold out earlier this month. The Bucs' only other home game, Oct. 23 against Chicago, was held in London.

The Bucs said the new ticket structure offers a more price options. For instance, many of the $35 season tickets were reduced to $30, and the $17.50 tickets for children 16 and younger will be $15. Tickets in the 100-level, end zone will drop from $89 to $75.

"For 2012, we specifically sought to make lower-level seats more accessible to a greater number of people," Glazer said, "while also giving more fans than ever the chance to become season pass members through a completely overhauled pricing system intended to offer something for everyone."

The team also said season- ticket holders will now get 15 percent off all in-stadium food, non-alcoholic beverages and merchandise concessions. And the interest-free, 10-month payment plan option will continue.

For more information, call 813-879-BUCS (2827) or visit Buccaneers.com.

[ Rick Brown can be reached at rick.brown@theledger.com or 863-802-7569. ]